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Susie’s Hope Review & Giveaway – Based on a True Story

Okay, so when I was asked if I’d like to review Susie’s Hope DVD – a movie based on a true story of unfathomable animal abuse – I hemmed and hawed.

You see, as I began to read what the movie was about I just didn’t know if I could bring myself to watch this movie. I just didn’t think I could do it. We weren’t put on this earth to be abused and neither were animals. Though, as I continued to read about the movie in the pitch letter, I felt compelled to watch it. I felt that I needed to see it and share with anyone and everyone the mission Donna accomplished in helping this abused animal and many others despite her devastating encounter with a pit bull. All of us can do our share in preventing animal abuse.

That said, it was a given that I’d ball my eyes out before the movie was over. I’m a huge animal lover and I cannot fathom the thought of any type of animal abuse – even though I know it’s all around us just as humans are abused day in and day out. I just don’t understand how anyone could hurt a living being – human or animal. It makes me sick inside to think of this happening in our world.

The sad thing is – animals have no voice, unlike us humans. We have to be their advocates. There are many laws in place for hurting humans – not so many for animals. And if there are laws in place – many aren’t as strong as they should be. This is where Susie’s Hope sends a huge message to the world. Us humans can change the way animals are treated – how the abuser pays his dues for being so cruel.

About the movie

Based on the true story that successfully passed Susie’s Law in North Carolina, which seeks stricter punishment for animal abusers, Susie’s Hope brings to life the inspirational relationship between pit bull attack survivor Donna Lawrence and Susie, a pit bull-mix puppy found beaten, burned and left for dead. Recognizing reflect and abuse were to blame for the tragic attack that nearly claimed her life 10 months earlier, Donna resumes the battered animal and accepts her as family. Together, they learn to heal, love and forgive as they lead a historic effort to seek justice and protection, not only for Susie, but all animals. Starring Emmanuelle Vaguer (40 Days and 40 Nights), Burgess Jenkins (Remember The Titans) and Andrea Powell (Ender’s Game, The Twighlight: Breaking Dawn Saga: Part 2), Susie’s Hope is an incredible story of love, loss and redemption.

Can you see from reading about the movie how hard it could be for someone who loves animals to watch it? Seriously – an animal left for dead that has been found beaten and burned? Personally, I’d love to have the punishment for the abuser to be abused the same way they abused the animal – that would work well for me – but that don’t even happen for hurting humans, so it’s not going to happen to those who abuse animals.

So my daughter and I set out to watch Susie’s Hope, and yes, I could not help myself from crying at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end. Some of the crying was from seeing how this helpless animal struggled. Some of the crying was from how the animal and and it’s rescuer were being torn apart. But in the end – the tears – those were tears of joy.

Joy that what once the abuser wasn’t going to be convicted of his crime – ended up being convicted due to another human voice speaking up. And more tears of joy that the dog’s rescuer won a feat to protect animals from being abused now called Susie’s Law.

Susie’s Law – a new law was born to protect animals from abuse where the abuser receives stricter penalties.

About Susie:

Susie was found nearly dead in Greenfield Park in Greensboro, North Carolina on August 20, 2009. Just a puppy, Susie had licked the face of her owner’s newborn baby. Her owner became violent—she was beaten so severely her jaw was broken. That wasn’t enough, though. She was then set on fire and left for dead. Incredibly and against all odds Susie survived. Donna Lawrence adopted her two months later. Susie is now a trained therapy dog and event won the American Humane Association’s American Hero Dog this year!

And Susie – she has been recognized with the Dog Hero Award:

Donna continues to be on a mission to help these abused animals. But she’s come to do more than that – there is now a Susie’s Hope Foundation with a mission that is just what the world needs:

It is the mission of Susie’s Hope™, a nonprofit organization, to foster awareness of the animal abuse that exists in our nation and to work to end this epidemic by providing education to people of all ages.

Take a minute and head to Susieshope.com. Educate yourself on her mission. Take a peak at the Susie’s Hope movie trailer. Purchase the movie and you’ll be helping to fund the foundation.

Giveaway

One (1) winner will win the Susie’s Hope DVD. Open to residents of the US & Canada only and those 18 years old and over. Giveaway is void where prohibited by law, including Quebec. No Purchase Necessary. Giveaway runs from 6am 12/8 thru 12am 12/18/2014. Only one entrant per mailing address. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Opinions are 100% my own. Winners are selected via the Rafflecopter Platform, which uses Random.org. FCS was NOT influenced by monetary compensation. FCS did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.